Need for local undertakers to deal with sudden deaths

Sinn Féin MLA Sean Lynch raised a question to the Minister of
Justice David Ford regarding the delay of removal of bodies for Post Mortem
examinations in Belfast.

Mr. Lynch said,

“There was recently an example in my own constituency where
a woman who died suddenly in July and lay in her home for five hours before the
undertaker arrived from Lurgan.

“Not only did they get lost trying to find the house but
also had to ask the family for directions to Belfast. This is due to the fact that there is only one
undertaker outside of Belfast authorised to remove the body of people who have
died a sudden death.

“Minister of Justice Mr. Ford in his reply stated that there
was a two hour window and that this target was met most of the time.

“However I believe that no grieving family should have to
wait this amount of time for the removal of a loved one.

“I am calling on the Minister to give authorisation to more
local undertakers so that the time delay in the removal of remains is made
quicker and the pain associated with sudden death is not heightened.”